By Times reporter Richmond and Twickenham Times - UK
BANNED from carrying any items that might be used for graffiti, a 15-year-old boy has become the latest youth to be charged in the borough police's crackdown on anti social behaviour.
The youth from Mortlake, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted 29 accounts of criminal damage after he was arrested for damaging the wall of a shop in Mortlake.
On Tuesday Richmond Magistrates' Court heard how the youth had been captured on CCTV cameras spray painting his tags JAR and SF onto the wall of the Kingsway Store, Lower Richmond Road, at 12.55am on Saturday, July 3.
Police visited the boys house the following day and when told about the CCTV footage he admitted causing the damage valued at £75.
Following his arrest police searched the boys bedroom and found tags known to be on a number of buildings in Barnes and Mortlake.
They then drove around the borough while the youth pointed out buildings he had defaced.
Speaking to the court before sentencing the youth said: "Like other teenagers I go through periods of good and bad behaviour. I am sorry for what I have done, I hope I can put it in the past and look for a better future."
The 15-year-old was sentenced to a ten month referral order and fined £395 to pay for all the damage, he was also ordered to pay £55 costs.
On the request of the police an Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) was made for a two year period banning the youth from being found with any item which maybe used for graffiti.
The ASBO was not opposed by the defence although the youth's representative Mr Brown emphasised his clients previous good character.
In sentencing, the chair of the bench, Mrs Houston, said: "Graffiti is just a street name for criminal damage. It is totally unacceptable."
After the verdict Mahesh Patel, the owner of Kingsway Stores said: "I would rather he came and cleaned it off here, then he wouldn't do it again. If I hadn't had the camera he would have got away with it. We want to keep the community safe here."
This was the sixth arrest made since the police began targeting anti-social behaviour through Operation Peacemaker in April.